System for automatically controlling the switches in a railroad classification yard



Push Bufi'on Bank March 19, 1940.

c. L. BROWN ET AL ,353

SYSTEM FOR AU'iOMATIOALLY CONTROLLING THE SWITCHES IN A RAILRQADCLASSIFICATION YARD Filed Dec. 9.

1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS N.C.L.Br'own and WMMor an lncompetenzjby M0 Mar an,(2mm' A BY 7% 1a @2571,

March 19, 1940. c BROWN ET AL 2,194,353

SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE SWITCHES n A RAILROADCLASSIFICATION YARD Filld Dec. 9, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 e15 Storage Bank5 UNIT B Storage Bank B FIG.3.

NC LB d WV I Inmmpefent, y l f firgam n m l t fe Mud! 1940- N. c. BROWNET AL 2,194,353

SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE SWITCHES IN A RAILROADCLASSIFICATION YARD Filed Dec. 9, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 T: u n

121 X 2B 5 m U 5? O 3 Q E 2 ID 3 I[J(- t. i{ INVENTORS N.C.L.Brown andW.V.Mor an, E Incom emfb MUM ,Comm' U. Q I! 15v M I ATTY.

March 19, 1940. c, BROWN 5 AL 2,194,353

SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE SWITCHES IN A RAILROADCLASSIFICATION YARD Filed Dec. 9. 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I t! I \L I n I.Bmkemins Towe ATT'Y.

March 19, 1940. N c BROWN AL 2,194,353

SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE SWITCHES IN A RAILROADCLASSIFICATION YARD BY V I ATT'Y.

Patented Mar. 19, 1940 LING THE SWITCHES IN A RAILROAD CLASSIFICATIONYARD Ned C. L. Brown, Scottsville, and Wesley V. Morgan, incompetent,Rochester, N. Y., by Martha 0. Morgan,

I v Rochester, NY.

Rochester, N. Y., committee, assignors to General Railway SignalCjompany,

Application December 9, 1938, Serial No. 244,816

This invention relates to apparatus for automatically controlling thetrack switches: of a hump-yard system, or the like, and includes traindescriber apparatus for transmitting a train de- 11 scription of the cardestination to successive track switches in a route as such train or carap preaches these track switches, each switch being controlled by suchtrain describer apparatus before a car reachesit and after such' carenters are allowed to run down the humpin close suecession, each car orcut of cars to a particular storage track. In-practice, a large numberof such cars, or cuts of 'cars, follow each other off the hump in closesuccession, and in order that a track switch may assume the properposition when a particular car reachesit, it is often necessary thatthe, track switch be operated immediassociated therewith by the car nextin advance. In other words, the requirement ofjtime of ope'r ation o'ftrack switches is often so precise that automatic control or the trackswitches is desir able in order that-a track switch may be operated assoon'as its detector track circuit becomes unoccupied by a precedingcar. Since the carsto be classified may be so closely spaced thatseveral differently classifiable cars may occupy the 40' same stretch ofnon-track circuited trackbetween twosuccessive track switches, it isnecessary to have suitable train describer storage apparatus whichwillstore, so to speak, the destination each particular car of severalcars is to take, so that" 45' this stored indication may operate thetrack switch before the car designated thereby reaches such trackswitch. [In modern hump-yard train classificationsystems the cars orcuts of cars,are

retarded 'bysuitable track brakes, which track 50" brakes are controlledfrom a brakemans'tower located below the hump and from which tower thedistribution 'andstorage tracks are clearly visible. The cardescriptions stored in the train describer system are preferablyregistered therein :by a man located on the hump where the train uponthe next track switch in the rear, and is ately upon vacancy of thedetector track circuit I l 32 Claims. (o1.2 46-2 y y e t to be brokenupor classified is located. The

brakemans tower and hump control board have been shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings.

In accordance with the present invention it is proposed to construct thetrain describer system entirely of manually operable contacts, relaysand circuits, which relays are neutral relays many of which are providedwithstick and holding circuits. It is proposed to employ a plurality ofstorage relay banks of which two such storage banks have been shown ineach of the storage units, one unit being shown in each of Figs. 2, 3and 4. The number of storage banks in each storage unit-should be suchthat all of the cars that may occupy the approach track leading to atrack switch may have their descriptions stored therein, one "cardescription .for each storagebank. Each of these storage bangs includethree kinds or charactersof relays; .Each storage unit includes carrierrelays which by being energized. manifest that a train description isstored in that bank of such unit, include storage relays which manifestwhat this train description is and in-- clude transfer relays whichdetermine when a train description may be transferred to the nextsuccessive storage bank. When the train destination is to be transferredfrom one storage unit to another storage unit, each of Figs. 2, 3 and 4showing one such storage unit, a detector track relay associated withthe track switch separating such storage units must be operated. Morespecifically these track relays are employed for determining when thetrain destination shall be transferred from the first storage bank ofone storage unit to the last storagebank of another storage unit inadvance thereof. By first storage bank is meant the storage bank firstto store a train destination in a storage unit. These ,first banks havebeen designated by the expo ment l aflixed to a letter characterizingthe storage unit. Similarly the last storage bank signifies the bank ofa unit last to store a train destination.

The present invention particularly distinguishes from the inventiondisclosed in the application of Brixner'and'Coley in the provision ofthe carrier relays, which carrier relays enable an all negative code tobe stored in the storage relays.

By all negative code is meant a code in which all 1 of the storagerelays remain deenergized. In this connection it maybe pointed out thateach of the storage relays of a bank definitely defines the position a"particular switch is to take for the particularcar stored in the storagebank. For instance, if thefirst storage relay in a storage bank isenergized code element) it means that the first switch in the route overwhich the described train is to move will assume the reverse position,if the second relay of thestorage bank is deenergized' code element) itshows that the second switch in theroute isto remain' in its normalposition, and so on, there being as many storage relays as there areswitches yet to be encountered by the car described by the. storagebank. If all of the switches in the route are to remain in their normalposition code) all of the storage relays remain deenergized and the factthat a train-description is stored in the storage bank is thenwhollymanifested by the energized condition of the. carrier. relay of thestorage bank. By thi's'construction one one storage relay in a storagebank may be eliminated for each track switch; that a car has alreadypassed over. In other words, the. storage, banks shown in Fig. 2 includethree storage re-' lays, the storage banks: shown in Fig. 3 include onlytwo storage relays; and the storage banks in Fig. 4 include only'onestoragerelay. Inother words, one" of theobjects of the present invention' resides in the; provisionvof relays so interlocked and:interconnected. as to perform the necessary functions with the minimumnumber of relays especially for the more involved humpyardsystems whereeight or morerstorage tracks are employed. More specifically, for thecomplete system shown conventionally in Fig. 7, unit A. employs tenrelays, units C employ each". only eight relays, units D;:E',.F and Ciemploy each other six relays, making a total of fifty transfer, carrierand storage relays. Other objects and purposes of the presentinven-tionreside in the arangement of relays and circuits which may: be readilyexpanded to control the larger hump-yard systems irrespective of thenature of the track layout.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic. features of the. inventionwill be more particularly pointed out in' the description hereinafterand will in: part be obvious from: the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. I shows the push buttonbank of control push buttons and storagerelays of which the push buttons at least are located on the humpcontrol board.

Each of Figs. 2, 3 and. 4 showthe apparatusof storage units; Fig. 2.showing a storage unit employing three storage relays for each. bank}.

Fig. 3 shows a storage unit employing two stor age relays for each bank;and: Fig. 4 shows a storage units; Fig. 2 showing, a storage unit eachbank.

Fig. 5- illvstrates the actual selected track layout together with: thevarioustrack. switches.

switch machines, and track relays, together with the hump control: boardlocated on top of the hump and the brakemans tower located near thestorage: tracks.

Fig. 6 illustrates a miniature track layout comprising a. control and:indication panel on which are located the indicating. lamps, thisupanelpreferably being. located in the brakemans tower where also ispreferably located-the aparatus shown in Figs. 2,. 3 and 4.

Fig. 7 shows how if Fig. 3' isreproduced once and Fig. l is reproducedthree times, as by making photostat copies thereof, the entire systemselected to illustrate the present invention may be built up byconnecting Figs. 1-, 2,. 3 and 4 as illustrated: in Fig. 7 of thedrawings.

If the entire system is to be thus: reproduced the reference charactersin the photostat copies should be changed as. is obvious from thedrawings when taken with the description.

Apparatus Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings the; apparatus includespush buttons PBH, PBI, PBJ, PBK,

storage track, the last letter in each reference character being thereference character for the storageitrack (see Fig; 5) to which suchpush button sends a car. Each of these push buttons has associatedtherewith a push button storage relay R; having: a prefix lettercorresponding to the let- 3 l5 ter designating the corresponding storagetrack. Each of these relayshas associated therewith an PBL, PBM, PBN andPBO, one button for each indicatinglamp which has been designated-by a Ismall letter corresponding to the. capital letter.

identifying the approach or storage track with which this lamp isassociated. Each-of these;

relays. set-upa particular code in a storagebank j" signifying. aparticular track; These codes have:

been identified by plus and minussigns';

written over each push button wherein sig nifies: switchreversed; andnormal.

signifies switch. also signifies storage relayup and;

() signifies. storage relay down, sothat I signifies. relays [A and 2Aup and relay 3A down. These relays R are so interlocked. that: only oneof these relays can be energized at one time. and these relays areprovided with stick circuits which maintain; them, one at a time,

energized. until the train description designated by the, energized:condition of such relay has been either transferred to a storage bank.or has been cancelled. by acancelling push button. Four such cancellingpush buttons have been shown in- Fig. I

1- of which the cancelling push buttoni CPB cancels all. of the traindescriptions that may be stored. in the entire system; of which pushbutton CR. may cancel any'train description stored in the. push. buttonrelays R, thecancelling push button CR may cancel; any train descriptionthat may be stored in the storage bank A? and of stored in storage bankD Each storage bank'of relays is composed of a transfer relay TR, acarrier relay C, and one or more storage relays such asA, B and Dillustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The transfer relays TReach havetheir sufilx letter R, provided with an exponent correspondingto the exponent In Figs. 3 and 4 have also been identifying a storagebank in which it is located.

Each transfer relay also has a prefix letter corresponding to. theletter identifying the storage unit in which it is located. Similarly,the carrier relays C have their suflix. letter 0 provided with anexponent corresponding to that of the exponent. identifying thestoragebank in which it is located and have a prefix corresponding tothe letter identifying the storage unit in which they are located. Thestorage relays on the other hand are identified by the same letter whichidentifies the storage bank butieach have a prefix: T

number corresponding'toj the order of the track switches in' the routeover which a particular. ;train. description governs; the prefix 1identifying, the first switch, the prefix {identifying the secondswitch,and the prefix identifying the third :switch to be traversed inthe route. Theseistorage relay reference characters also each include anexponent corresponding to the exponent identifying the storage bank inwhich it is included. I

Where two successive storage banks of relays,

. such as storage bank A and storage bank B are separated by a trackswitch si'iitablezsupplemental transferring means, is employed; Thissupplemental transferring means of the. system illustrated includesatrack relaysuoh as the trackrelay T (see Fig.2), atrack repeater relaysuch 7 'as T R, which relays T and T R allow'a train destination ordescription to be transferred only while such track relay is deenergizedand before [the track repeater relay is actually picked up.

There are also provided switch machine repeater relays whichdetermine-whether the train destination to be transferred shallbetransferred to one storage unit or another of two storage units. In Fig.2 the train description will be transferred to storage unitB,"i1lustrated in Fig. 2, if the switch repeater relay RW'P isenergized,

but will betransferred to storage unitC, shown conventionally inFig. 7,.ifthe switch repeater relay NWP is energized. Each storage unit inaddition to being provided with the; relays constituting two or morestoragebanks. is also provided with switch machine controlsNR and RRhaving an exponent corresponding to the track switch with which thatstorage unitis associated. This apparatusnis' also provided' with aswitch machine SM having an exponent corresponding to the track switchwhich it controls:

- Each switch machine is. also 'providedwith a switch reversing relay Rcontaining an exponent corresponding to the track- 'switchwith' which itis associated, This switch machine reversing relay is a slow,dr'opping'relay and isconnected in a holding "energizing circuitincluding its own front contact and including a front contact of oneswitch repeater relay and a back contact of the other switch repeater"relay inrsuch a mannerthat this switch reversing relay-R is deenergizedthe. moment that the condition of ener- "ergization of the formerlyenergized switch machine repeater relay before the slow acting switchreversing relay R has assumed the retracted position and therebyre-establishing a holding circuit for this switch reversing relay R.{If, on the other hand, the switch machine is notable to complete itsstroke in time, possibly because there I switch reversing relay Rdown'the control circuit is an obstruction between the switclr points,the

switch reversing rela'y R assumes its deenergized position and breaksits holdingcirc uit; With.

therelay R in its retracted position and the switch reversing contactscontrolled by this for the switch machine-is reversed, thereby operatingthe switch machine back to its original position preventing derailmentof acar. *-:Itis,

of course, understood'that underthis condition;v

the car which passed over the track switchwill [have 'moved into thewrong storage track,-but

this is considered preferable to derailment oi the car.-

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings. it will be noted that certain wirestherein have been shown by heavy lines. These wiresare used for givingspecial flashing indication onthe route identifying lamps I-IL and IL,are used to sound the alarm bell ABL and are also used to enable theoperator located in the brakemanstower to take the control of the trackswitch at a particular location away from the train .describer apparatusto afford operation of this track switch by hand.

The apparatus and wiring. shown in 'heavy lines I for connecting suchapparatus to the system i1- ,lustrated in Fig. 4 is also preferably usedwith the storage units A and B shown in Figs. 2 and .3,

ciatedwiring has for convenience been omitted from Figs. 1 and 2. Theflashing indication' above mentioned is obtained throughthe mediumof theflashing relay F shown in Fig. 4. 7 Brief, des'criptz'bn of system Oneof the outstanding features of'th'e' comrespectively, but this apparatusandits assobined train describing andswitch o 'oeratingsystem embodyingthe present invention resides, in the provision of transfer apparatusassociated with each storagebankincluding a transfer relay and a carrierrelay which is so organized that the carrier relay, by assuming itsenergized position, manifests that a. train is stored in the,

storage bank even though all of the storage relays of the storagebankactually assume their deenergized position. In other words, thestorage relays of a storage bank identify the route over which a train,the description of which is stored in the storage bank, is to pass eventhough all of the storage relays of that bank-assume, their.d'eenergized position. Putting this in different wordsythe storagerelays of a particular storage bank in co-n'lbination with the carrierrelay of that ruff storage bank identify the route that a train is totake. The fact that a train destination is stored in this storagebank ismanifested by the carrier relay assuming its energized position.

The successive-storage relays in a storage bank define by theircondition of energization whether the successive switches in the routeidentified-by v such storage bank are to assume their normal or reverseposition. For instance, if the first storage relay in-"a storage'bank'is energized this manifests that the first switch encountered inthat route will assume its, reverse position and if deenergizedmanifests that the first switch in the stored route will assume itsnormal position. The second and third storage relays by their conditionof energization and deenergization also manifest that the second andthird switch in the routeidentified is to assume their reverse or norma1position respectively. Consequently, if all three of the storage relaysare deenergized this manifests that all of the three switches of theroute identified by the storage relays will all assume their normalposition and that the cut of cars will move over the normally-set uproute to the storage track "0 as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. v

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, each of the eight push buttonsPBH--PBO signify a particular route (see Fig. 5) which a train will takewhen-run off of the hump when a particular push 6 transmitted-to thestorage bank A to energize T (see Fig. 2) cmienithistrain enters, up'onthe storage relays of this storage bank in acthe LtracksWitchSWand-=deenergizes 'the' tr-ack "eorclancewith the code characteridentified by :relay T the opening Iof itsiront contact BU-Will theparticular R relay. Referring to Fig. '1, it deenergizethe carrier'relayACL Since, however, I w'illbe noted that the contact w of the relay HR,this carrier relay 'A'C is slow,dropping' the'train ll) when energized,will apply potential through description stored in the storage bank Ai's trans "-10.

button is depressed. Depression of one of these push "buttons will causeits associated relay R to he energized. If there is no train stored, inthe storage-bank A a multiple element code will be jumpers to each ofthe three bus lines leading to the"storage relays of the storage bank Aand that all of the other contacts energize only two, one or noneofthese bus wires, as a result of ennan s ftaining stora'ge 'ban'ks B 'andB 'uzitil thettrai'n described by :this train description-has enteredupon the trackcircuit-' assoc'iated j with track switch SW KseeFig. 5)-,n'e'un"ely, the trackielay 'ferred tojthe storage relays of the storagebank- JB insofar as the condition of energization of the second andthirdstorage relayof' the storage FIB which none, one, two or three ofthe storage rebank is concerned; over front contacts H9 and '1 i sizeofi'relay RWPA, *1 6 The "train description'now stored'in the stor aage'lbank B2 will, inithe eventthattheflstorage' bank B i is not beingused, be transfer'red 'tothis '1 storage bank B in a manner'as alreadypointed Jays of storage bank A is energized depending upon WhiCl'iOfthe. push buttons has been depressed. These jumpers correspond to thecodes written over the respective'push buttons.

Let us assume that the operator depresses the push-button PBH. This willresult in energizatic-n of the relay HR which relay I-IR will then 'bestuck up through a stick-circuit readily traced in tl1e-drawings. Withthe relay HR stuck up Substantially simultaneous with the picking upof;-the storage relays of the storage bank A the transfer relay ATR ofthe storage bank A is also energized. The picking up of the transferrelay ATR results in energization of the carrier relay A and withthese'relays A'IR and AC both energized the storage relays of thestorage bank A will be energized'to the same code pattern as are thestorage relays of the storage bank relays lA 2A and 3A are-energizedmanifesting that a train descriptionis stored in the storage bank Awhich identifies a train that is to move to the storage track 1-1. Thistrain description cannot betransferred to the storage unit Bconout inconnection with "the stora'ge bank 'A "of stored in storage bank B thistrain' description will be-transferred to the storage bank B puponoccupancy of the detectortra'ck circuit contain I lays of: storage bankiA unless the "carrier relay AC is energized and that such energizationof the carrier relay A C'. fwill resultiby reason of the opening ofitsback contact sland 'deen'ergization of the carrier relay AC "ofthestoragebankA2,! It is also readily apparent that when a traindestination is stored inua particular storage'bank as manifested, amongother things, by the ener-.

gized conditio'nof its carrier relay,1the transfer all of thecarrier'relays assume their deenergized position and that the nextswitch over'w'hich the 'storage'unit'A.With'th'e'l'train'description'now.

all of the other push buttons'will be rendered ining track'relay T v I iV efiective to pickup their associated R relays. From this brief"description, it is. readily ape j With the relay HR picked up, closureof its front parent that both 'the'transfer 'relay'and the car- Contactwill result in energization of the tr'ans- I rier relay of a storagebank must be'energizedito p fer relay ATR (see Fig. 2); With contact 32of receive a train destinationfindi'cation 'butf th'at the-transferrelay ATE. closed, the carrierrelay only the carrier-relay need beenergized to 'hold' o v "AC will be energized. With the transfer relaysuch'indicationin a'storage bank.Itis also seen ATR andtlie'carrierirelay AC both energized that the carrier 'rel'ay 'o'feachstoragebank is: the storage relays of thestoragebank A will be madeslowdropping' and-that 'byreaso'n or" this i connected to the three buswires above mentioned fact a stored indicationimay' be transferred' fromand these storage relays will be energized ,ordeone storage bank toanother storage bank rate I energized depending upon the code characteras time'when the c'a'rrier relay'of thefirst mentioned manifested by thejumpers connecting the constorage bank is "actually .deenergized-buthasnot 'tact and the bus wires, and in the instant yet assumeditsdeenergizedfposition. This case, will cause all three of the storagerelays 1A apparent 'fromthe fact that atrain destination 'M2A and 3A tobe energized. can, for instance, *notbestoredin thestoragerre-Mfl.

50 A which in the present instance resides'in all relay ofsuchstoragefbankcannot tbepicke'd up 50 three of the storage relays IA2A and 3A bcbecause its pick-up circuit isbrokenasy-for'ining energized.I stance, :at back contact 52 of the carrier relay:

e picking p Of the S a el y 1A1 AC as a result'of which no'traindestinationica'n through the medium of itS' t Contact -1 be transferredfrom the storage bank in therear I $5 sults in' he ene ization of thereverse relay BR so long as a previously stored train destination is alland results in operation of the switch machine stored therein, It isiaISO' rgadi1y"appa,rentby SM to its reverse position. This operat on ofreferring to Fig. 4 of th'edrawings, showingstorthe switch machine SMwill of course'iresultin age banks employing only One:st0ra;ge re1a,yfD,deenergization of the normal switch repeater h t ith this' toragerr'elayD assuming its :de- 1] relay NWPA and energiZatiQn O e reverse energizedposition andits a'ssociated 'carrierrew switch machine indicationrepeater relay RWP layjDC assuming its'energized pos'ition'not -only Tpicking up the relay C resulted in is a circuit closed for manifestingthat the-train breaking of the stick circuit for the relay HR (588stored. therein shall pass to 'the storage track 'I, Fig. 1) andsimilarly picking up of the relay AC as indicated by the'illuminationofthe indicating resulted in the breaking of the stick circuit for lamp ibut also howsthata circuit iwillbe 86 the relay AC nd dropping of therelay A closed for the normal relay NRP to operate the i resulted in thedeenergization of the storage reswitch p t b k't t n'ormalpbsition 'tays 2A2 and 3A2 and also resulted the event it formerly assumed areverseposition; deene fl 0f the transfer relay O that From this latterconsideration; itis apparentthat ro now only the carrier lay A and etransfer a'train destination may be indicated even though .deenergized"and the fact that a :train "destination v v n 25194363 is stored in astorage bank may be indicated by the carrierrelay' assuming itsenergized position and all'storage' relays assuming their deenergizedposition, v

In orderto get a clear understanding of an.-

plicants invention it is proposed to now describe m the operation of thesystem. Let us first assume that the operator momentarily depressed insuccession the push buttonsPBH, FBI and P130 in that order, for thepurpose of allowing three cuts of.cars to be automatically sent to' thestorage tracks H, I and '0, respectively, shown in-Fig.

of the drawings. Momentary depression of the push button PBH closes apick-up circuit for the push button relay HR. which may be traced asfollows: beginning at the battery BAT, push button contact CPB, contactof the push but ton PBH,-winding of the relay HR, back contacts l2, I3"l4, l5, l6, l1 and18 of the push button relays IR to OR, respectiyelyback contact [9 of the; relay TRA through the push button contact CRtothe terminal Picking up of the push a button relay HR closes anenergizing circuit for the indicating, lamp it through the front contact2,0 of this relay and also'closes two stickcircuits which maybe tracedasfollows: beginning at the battery BAT,' push button Icontact' CPB,stick contact 2| of the relay HR, winding of this relay HR,- backcontacts l2,/l3,- l4, l5; l6, l1 and I8 and thenbranching into twoparallel circuits one including the backcontact I79 of the relay A'I'R vand the other including the stick contact 22 of therela'y HR. andincluding back contact 23 of the;

relay, AC both of these branches then passing through the front contactof push button CR to the other terminal'(-) o'f-the batteryBAT With thepush. buttonirela'y HR now energized ;a pick- 'up-circuit; is closedfor'the transfer relay ATlEt which maylbe traced as follows: beginningat i the positive terminal of the battery BAT, front contact 25 oftherelay HR', ,back contact 28 of the relay AC winding of the relay ATE. tothe other terminal of thebattery BATL With this relay ATR now. energizedit h-is, stuckfup through two stick circuits each includingfthe frontstick contact28 ofthe relay A'JLR. and ineluding in multiple the frontcontact 29 of relay ;HR and the normally open contact 30 of the pushbutton PBH. Picking up of the transfer relay A'I'R opens the stickcircuit for the push button relay HR including the back contact, I9 ofthis relay ATR the other stick circuit for-the push button relay HR'including the back contact 23 of lithe relay AC however remainslintactlPicke ingup of the transferrelay ATR closesa pick-up circuit for thecarrier relayAC which may be traced from the battery BAT, throughthecan-f j cellingrbutton contact CPB,-front-contact 25' of; the relayHR, front contact 32 of the relay-ATR the windingof the reIayTAC backcontact 33' ofthe relay ATR and push buttoncontact CR 5 te't e otherterminal of the batteryBAT.

two stick circuits which may be traced as follows:

The relay, 'AC 'uponpicking up is stuck up through beginning at "theterminal of the battery I BAT,push button contact CPB, stick contactiliiof the relay AC winding of this relay AC through twovparallel branches,oneincluding the backcontact 33 of th relay AfI'R ,"and the; pushbuttoncon'tact CR -in series, and the other includingthe stick contact36 of the relay Ac ft'he iback contact-31 0f the relay AC ,-a'nd thestorage relays A 2A 'and 3 A will be energized. 1

The energizing circuit for these relays include the front contacts 4|,42 and 43 of the. relay ATR and include the contacts 44, Atiand at ofthe relay AC The picking up. of these storage relays IA, 2A and 3A willcomplete stick circuits for these relays including the stick contacts41, 48 and 49, respectively. The picking 'up of the relay AC by theopening of its back contact 26 made the transfer relayATR dependent uponits stick circuitsincluding the contacts 29 of relay HR andtfl of pushbutton PBH, respectively. Also, the picking' up of this relay AC breaksthe only remain-' ing stick circuit for the relay HR at its back contact23, the other stick circuits for this relay HR. 3

having been broken at the back contact H! of the v relay ATR? whenthisrelay ATR became energized. The actual dropping of the relay HR ishowever delayed, this relay HR being slow dropping so that'the storagerelays 1A 2A and 3A have suflicient time to assum their energizedposition to close their stick circuits before their pick-up circuitswere broken at the contact of the relay HR. I

With thepush button relay I-IR now deenergized one of the stick circuitsfor the relay ATR, namely, the one includi'ng'the front contact 29 ofrelay HR, is broken andif the operator has released th push'button PBHand this push button has not remained downaccidentallythe other stickcircuit for'the relay A'IR, is also broken at the contact 30' of thisrelay PBH, so that this transfer relay A'IR. assumes its deenergizedposition;

Picking up of the carrier relay AC through the medium of its frontcontact 5| and the back contact 52 of the r,e'lay"AC has in th meantimepicked up the transfer relay ATR This transfer relay ATR once energizedcloses two stick circults for this relay which may be traced as follows: (1) beginningat the terminal of the battery BAT, the contact ofthe push button CPB,

the front contact 53 of the relay ATR the stick contact 54 of the relayATR through the wind ing of this-relay ATR to the other terminal and(2') beginning at the battery BAT through the push button contact CPB,the front contact 5| of the relay AC the stick contact 55 of the relayATR through the winding of thisrelay ATR to the other terminal of thesame bat tery. Picking up of the transfer relay ATR opens vone of thestick circuits for the relay AC? at its back contact 33, thus making theenergization of this relay AC dependent upon the backcontact 3'! of therelay AC Also with relays" ATE, andAC now in their energized condition apick-up v circuitfor the-carrier relay AC which maybe traced as followsis closed: beginning, at

the (+)jterm'inal of the battery BAT, contact of the push button CPB,front contact 58 of the .relay AC front contactjEQ of the relay ATRfront contact 60 of the detector track relay T through the winding ofthe relay "AC through v through the push button contact CR 'to the otherterminal of this battery BAT. With this relay AC now energizedit willremain ener gized through a stick circuit including its stick contact 62and including front'contact 60 of-th provided that the detector trackrelay T is *enof the detector track relayT front contact 8! of theswitch control relaysf RRand' the front the carrier relay AC b Withthese storage relays iAL 12A and 3A now carrier relay AC will makethetransier relay ATR dependent for its energization upon the two stickcircuits for this relay heretofore traced and including the stickvcontacts 54 and '55, respec-,

tively. With. the transfer relay ATE and the carrier relay AC now bothenergized all of the energizing circuits for the relay AC are broken andthis relay will afterla short time assum its deenergized position, butbefore this relay AC assumes its dee'nergized position, it beingslowdropping, to deenergize the storage relays 9A 2A and 3A the code storedin these storage relays will be transferred to the storage relays EA 2Aand 3A of storage band A through circuits including front contacts t l,-65 and M of relays 5A 2A and 3A2, respectively, and includ-.

ing contacts 5?, 58 and 69 of the transfer relay ATR and includingcontacts H, l2 and 73 of energized they remain energized through stickcircuits including their stick contacts TM; 15 and i6, respectively.Shortly after this transfer takes qpla'cethecarrier relay AC will assumeits deenergized position,- its sole remaining stick circuit having beenopened at the backcontact 31 of the carrier relay AC as a result of.which,

,- the storagerelays HA 2A and 3A are de- A energized because theirstick circuits are broken at the front contacts 46, '45- and ii}; of thecar-v rier relayAC I l I v Picking upof. the storage relay lA closes, anenergizing circuit forthe switchjcontrol relay RRf which may be tracedfrom the positive terminal of the battery BAT,through the push buttoncontact CPB, through front contact I9v of the storage relay HAEnergizationof the reverse control relay RR causes the switch machine SMto be operated to its reverse position ergized, this energizing. circuitfor the switch machine SM may be traced flOll'l the positive terminal ofthe battery BAT, through the push button contact CPB, through frontcontact 80 contact 82 of the switch reversing relay R The completion ofthis circuit causes the switch machine SM to be operated to itsreverseposition and by its initiation causes deenergization of the switchmachine repeater relay. NWP v and upon its v completion causes theenergization o fl the switch machine repeater relayRWPAthrough circuitswell known to thoseskilled inthe art. Itwill be noted that the switchreversing; relay R is normally energized through a stick circuit in--cluding the back contact 85 of the relay RWP and the front contact 86 fthe switch repeater relay NWP and the stick contact 8'5 of the relay Rdropping to an extent that if the switch ma-' This switch reversingrelay R is slow chineoperates properly the relay R. will remain in itsenergized position until the contacts 85 and 86, of the relays RWP andNWP have reversed so that a new stick circuit is closed. for therelay- Rand this relay Rf: will remain energized. If, on the other hand, theswitch the codes. stored tth'ereinjso that storage relays tQaP Qe. 39911 also,iindicatedm fialfifia det tor Week r ari'l he u c ieeua Q he;

ae .3; and hi tius: then r y in the a itch; SMrt hae t ts onnalcil t, mee sw tc ma hi e. Sal/ t" mite nsirmalj..po tion. In this connection-itshould be unde stood that the car inthe latter' vcase would take thewrong storage track, but that is preferable to derailment. This stickrelay warble picked j up again by the passage of the car'overthev ack,switch through the medium of back contact 84 p of track relay T K, j e'e i1fl;

With thev carrier, relay AC1. and the storage'; relay 8A both assumingthe] energizeduposit v; an energizing circuit is olosedifor-the indicatna p b n l n ,'theffrbntijcc c t-e her relay AC "and the front contact8,9,fof, the jrela i 15;; HA Theroute indicating lamp BLf-is also'ien'er gizecl; manifesting that the track switch has b initiated formovement to the revers'eiposition This energizing circuit for"thisjljamp BL; in}; cludes the front contacts! of; the track. re T thefront contact 8320f the carrierrelay AQh and the front contact9 3' ofthe storage rela'yfl'l A Ifl'ie lighting .of this'larnp rs'eexrigaf 111;inform the operator in the brakendans I"'towerI that the first cut ofcars will enter upon thelbt: track section B. When the cars eventuallypass, over the track'switch,SVM'theTtrack rearwbecomes deenergized andclosesjanother circuit: a for the lamp BL which includes back contact;911," of track relay T and front contactqfit} of; relay. an: i

RWP Q The indicating lamps 1 iin'f the hump,

tower and, 11 in the: brakemanjs "tower wil1-"o fj= course beextinguished as the "relays andfl HA respectively, become dee'nergized;the latter. of which became energized'whenthe storagere v 3%; lay 1A waspicked up. The carrier relay AC v and the storage relaysi' lA- 2Aandf-sh are as-Ii Q sumed to still remain intheir energized .condi j-.ticn. Q By this time the operator'att :hump control? 40 v boardwill'have depressed the push. button PBI; characterizing a code F j"asconventionally, illustrated directly over this pushfbuttoniPBI" Q s as aresult; of which the storagelrelays lA'efand 2A become energized" inresponse'to theehf ergizationof the push-button relay IR, allinlalmanner as already described in ccnn ection withthe'first'described'train description 1 The care rier relay AC of coursealsob ec'omes energized) but the transfer relay 'ATR doesnot become-15g;

energized because its pick-upjcircuitis brokenja the backfcontact" 52 of-the" car'rierrelay A; The code is-thu s stored in storagebank A whereasthe code +f is stored instorage bank; A The" temporary energizationofth}, 55 transferf relay; A'I R of course deehergizes the push buttonstoragerelay Withthe storagerelay 1A new again energized the-"indicatinglamp 12 shown ii -Figs. Zanddof thedrawingsf will againflbecome'illumin'ated'= thus indicating that the" second train is-alsodestined-Torthe:

track section B. The two-carrierr-elays Ac and AC and the two sets ofstoragerelays now have.%;

mg ZA AA IA and 2A are now: all are gized..,, The. storage relay 3A 'isfdeenergiz'edibe-li. a cause the second codels'tored. in-- thewdescribeisystem is a+ code V By this time-theoperator at thelhurnpcontroli' boardwill have depressed the push button PBO a resulting in the energizationof 3 the push button, arOR. This D 1 7', QI -"6 y o irefle'ctsli a.v.cod s:;- n m dzz r nv tional; f1 showing .1-of. directlyiovergthepushgbu by the fact that all of the three jumpers leading from thecontact 94 of this push button relay OR are disconnected from the buswires.- Since the carrier relay AC is now energized the pick- 5 ing upof the push button relay OR will not rezo' ings letus now assume thatthe first-cut of sult in energization of the transfer relay ATR thisbecause the pick-up circuit for this relay is broken at the back contact26 of relay AC With thethird train description now stored in the pushbutton bank by the relay OR'assum-' ing its energized condition theindicating lamp is illuminated through a circuit including the frontcontact 95 of the relay OR, thereby informing the operator at the humpcontrol board that the third train is destined to the track .0 over thenormally set up route (see Fig. and that its destination is stored inthe push button relay group. I I

Referring for a moment to Fig. 5 of the drawcars has reached the trackswitch SW which track switch has'been operated to itsreverse position asheretofore explained, that this first cut of carshas entered upon thedetector track" .25 circuit T thus causing this track relay to assumeits deenergized position, causing the route indicating lamp BL to beenergized through the back contact'ofthis track relay T andindependently-of the position of the storage relay 'IA but through acircuit including the front contact 96 of track repeater relay RWPDropping of the track relay T causes deenergi zation of the carrierrelay AC but since this carrier relay AC is slow dropping it will notdrop -until the indication stored in the storage bank- A has beentransmitted to the storage bank B the track switch A now assuming itsreverse position, but were itstill assuming its normal position thistrain description would have been trans- :ferred tovthe storage unit Cthrough contact 202 of relay NWP, instead of contact I02 of relay RWPthrough contact 203 instead of contact I03 of relay T R. and throughcontacts M9 and 220 of relay NWP instead of contacts H9 and I of relaydescription is- A to the storage bank B in response to the'drop- RWP(see Fig. 2). This stored train pingof the track relay T and before thecarrier relay AC is deenergized by first picking up the transfer relayB'I'R, through thefollowing circuit:-beginning at the terminal of thebattery BAT, front'contact I00 of the carrier relay AC back contact IOIof the track relay T front contact I02 of the switch repeater relay'-pick-up circuit for the carrier relay BC? which includes the frontcontact I08 of the relay BTR and the back contact I09 of the transferrelay -IBTR Picking up of the carrier relay B0 results in the closure oftwo stick circuits for this relay, one stick circuit including the stickcontact III of the relay BC andthe back contact I09 of the relay BTR andthe other stick circuit including both of the stick contacts III and N2of the carrier relay BC and also including the back contact II3 of thecarrier relay BC With the transferred from the storage bank transfer'relay'BTR and the carrier relay BC now both energized train descriptionj (signifying track H) stored in the storage bank" A is transferred tothe storage relays of the storage bank B before the slow droppingcarrier relay AC assumes its retracted position to cancel thisdescription from storage bank A This code is transferred only insofar asthe last two code characters of the stored code is concerned through themedium of front contacts I I5 and I It of the storage relays 2A and 3Athrough the back contacts Ill and, H8 of the trackrelay T through thefront contacts H9 and I20, of theswitch repeater relay RWP through wiresI2I and I22, through front contacts I23 and. I24 of the transferrelayBTR and through front contacts I25 and I26'of the carrier relay 'BCPicking up of the storage relay 23 results in the illumination of theindicating lamp at through the medium of front contacts I21 and I28 ofthe relays BC and 2B respectively. The storage relay 3B is also pickedup but this has no efiect on the control of indicating lamp d Sincethere is no trainstored in bank B of the storage unit B the traindescription storedin the storage bank B is immediately transferred tothe storage bank B 1 This transfer takes placein a manner and forreasons described in connection with the storage unit. A

shown-in Fig. 2 of the drawings and is for con- It may, however, be;

veni'ence not repeated. stated that it results in the picking up of therelays 2B and 3B 'and results in the illumination of the indicating lampd through a circuit including front contacts I30 and HM of the relays BCand2B respectively. Also with the relays 2B and 3B energized the switchmachine SM is operated to the reverse position through Y the medium of acircuitcontrolled by the relay RR all in a manner as already describedfor the track switch SW "Reviewing for a moment, storage bank'B nowstores a code storage bank B is empty,

the storage storage bank A stores the code -,,and

code -;is stored in push button relay OR.

1 It'is of course understood that the code I stored-in storage bank Awill be immediately 1 transferred to storage bank A for reasons alreadydescribed, Reviewing again the codes and. are now stored in storagebanks B A and the push button bank respectively. vi

-Dropping of the theentrance of the first cut of cars upon the trackswitch SW resulted in the energization of the track repeater relay T Rthrough a pick-up circuit including the-back contact I33. of the carrierrelay AC and the back contact I34 of the track relay T Picking up of therepeater track relay T R resulted in the closure of the stick 'circuitfor this relay including its own stick contact I35 and the back contactI30 of the until ,thecarrier relay AC had actually assumed its retractedposition as is evident in View of back contact I33. With the trackcircuit containing the track relay T still occupied by the first cut' ofcars and with the track repeater relay T R still energized theindication code stored ,in the storage bank A was transferred to thestorage bank A because there is an auxiliary pickeup-circuit for thecarrier relay AC including i the front contact I38 of the repeater trackrelay- T R,itbeing of course understood that the pretrack relay T inresponse to I v track re1ay T This picking up of the track re- 1peaterLrelay'T R. did of course not take place,

I machine lever SMLP.

of the r6186 'R ,y.contact 1.51 of the switch ma? chine lever SMIRfron-t contact .158 of the track relay :TP, front contact 159 of thecarrier relay D61, and front contact .160 of the storage relay 313through this lamp I-IL to the ,other terminal (a?) The illuminationpofthe lamp *HL will in.- form the operator the :brakemans tower that thefirst cutpof cars isto .move'into' the storage track If, however, theoperator'moves the switch machine :lever SMLP to its lofts-handposition, as it :wasabove assumed, the route indicating lamp I-IL willhe energized .dimly :through a circuit included in series with theindicating lamp HL the manual control indicating lamp MCL and also thecontact I511 .of the switch If the switch machine 5M shown in Fig. ,4.of the ,drawingsshould have been slow incompleting its stroke it wouldhave resulted in the deenergization -of the switch re.- versing relay RPthereby resulting in the return.- ing of the switch machine .SM .to itsformer position, allin a manner ,;as heretofore described in.cnnectiQnwith-Fig. 2 .of the drawings. This deenergization of the switchreversing-relay R also results in-the opening of the front contact I56of this relay and in extinguishing the lamp or as the .case may be, andresults in the energization of the extinguished lamp through .a

flashing circuit which may be traced from the terminal .of. the batteryBAT, contact of the push button .GPB, contact Hi2 of the flashing relaybackcontact I 63 .of the switch machine repeater relay NWP through theroute indicatin lamp to the -other,termina1,(-). The lamp will beflashed by-the completion or this circuitbecause the flashing relay Finternittently moves the .contact 1-62 to opposite ex.- tr emepositions. flashing relay F is controlled ,through the back contact J64vof the switch reversing relay BP, tand the flashing relay isintermittently operated be'causelits flashing QQm Q 216. nt mittentlyshunt one or h th 03 it two en rs tius w nd n s. all in a manner asclearly described in the prior patent to Field -No. 2,Q9f7,'786 grantedNovember v2, 11937.. 1. c cu t and ci cu po t on shown in i h in i F g-.4 o th dr win a e the same as those shown in Figs; 2 and 3 so thatthese circult portions need not be again described, It a b po n e gi hah fr co ta t 29.0 of the carrier relay 'DC corresponds to the contact {Bof the carrier-relayAC and this contact would be ,used -to control asubsequent storage banlranii storage unit :ifthere were more than threetrack switches inv a route through the hump yard-to be controlled,

It is of course understood that occupancy of the detector track circuitcontainirrg track relay T willcause the train description stored instorage bank D to be 'cancelledby openingof the front contact .269 of,relay T It should be remembered that codes and are still stored instorage Movement of thesecond cut of cars -,upon the track circuitscontaining track relays.',-I T and T -in succession will cause-thesecond code to be transferred from storage unit to storage unit, andfrom storage bank to storage bank wlthina .unit, in the same manner ashas been described in connection with the fi'rst cut vof cars. Likewisethe --third code will be similarly transferred, ibut ;tl;1is latter codewill not be transferred to units Band-.13 in succession, as was th aseabcve..-b.ut will be transfer ed to 1 unit :(3 and iG in succession, theswitch-.-ma.-

b k nd A ,m ctiv y.

chines "SM .and'SM in each case remainin n their normal position becausethis third cut of cars is described by an all negative code as hereo orexpla ed- Referring to Fig. '7 although the push button hank: shown i F1 an he Storage units A. B and 1) shown in Figs. 12, 3 and 4,respectively, hav .onlyb en shown an des ri d pe ifi l y, it should heunderstood that storage unit C is id ical to stora e unit B and th ttorag G are, identical to storage unit D. In other words, if it isdesired to reproduce the wiring diagram for the entire systemillustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings it is only necessary-to reproduceFig. 3 once photostatically and reproduce Fig. 4 three times,photostatically and to then connect the drawings end to end asillustrated in Fig. '7 oi -the drawings. In order to make indicatinglamps conform to what is illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, it wouldbe necessary to change the reference characters applied to theindicating lamps of units 0, E, F and tG lall in a manner as is obviousfrom Fig. 6 of the drawings. Similarly the reference characters of therelays of units C, E, F and G should be changed to conform with thescheme of nomenclature heretofore described.

Thecar classification system described in this application isparticularly meritorious by reason of the comparatively few relaysrequired. For in-. stance, there is only one storage relay required forveachof the storage banks of the last storage unit in a particularroute, there are only two storage relays required for each storage, bankin route, and these same storage relays serve to store the desiredpositions of thesame or diiferent track switches in different routes.:For instance, the storage relay 3A may store .whether any one of theswitch machines SlVI SM SM? or SM shall assume a particular position,the

particular switch machine which is to be controlled by this storagerelayfiA being determined bythefact whether one or both or neither ofthe two preceding storage relays IA and 2A are energized. For instance,if all three of the storage relays lA 2A and 3A are energized itmanifests that the storage relay 3A is to control the switch machine SMIf, however, the storage relays 1A and 3A only are energized, the factthat the storage relay 1A is energized .and storage relay 2A istdeenergized manifests that the car will take track section E and thatthe storage relay 3A 'will control the switch machine SM In other words,although 431 One of the storage relays determines whatpositions-particular switch shall take such storage relay mayatone timedesignate the position one particular switch shall take and at anothertime may designate the position another particular switch shal take- Thn su is th t e storage bank of each storage unit has one less storagerelay than does the storage bank of the next storage route.

. some important features of the system embodying the present inventionreside in the provision of interlocked pick-up circuits for the pushbutton relays. (Fig. 1) which function to allow only one o-f theserelays to be picked up at one time. That is,--the pick-up circuit foreach of these-relays includes a back contact of every otherjpush buttonrelay.

unit toward the hump in the same Each route push button is provided witha contact, such as contact 39 of push button PBH, for instance, whichchecks that the push button PBH has been returned to normal, for if itremains closed the transfer relay ATR cannot drop thus paralyzing thesystem until this push button PBH has been restored,

A front contact, such as front contact I38 of relay- T R, is providedfor each track repeater relay so that the first carrier relay, such asAC may be picked up to store a new train description in the storagebank, such as bank A while the preceding car still occupies the detectortrack circuit for the associated track switch. The relay T R, since itcannot pick up until relay AC has dropped, cannot maintain relay ACenergized through its front contact I38 but can allow it to pick up asjust pointed out.

The stick circuits for the transfer-relays and the slow dropping carrierrelays are such that carrier relays drop in succession from right toleft and that the transfer relays drop in succession from left to right,as viewed in the drawings, providing that the next carrier relay to therear (to left in drawings) is in a deenergized condition. For instance,if a train description is set up in the push button relay group (Fig.1), assuming each of the storage banks A and A to be vacant, the relaysATR AC ATE, and AC are picked up in that order and then each relay isstuck up. The transfer relay ATR. is directly stuck upby relay AC up(see contacts 5| and 55) and is also directly stuck up by transfer relayA'I'R up (see contacts 53 and 54) although carrier relay AC may droptransfer relay ATR is dependent on transfer relay ATR up. Reversely withtransfer relay ATR up, it having been explained that it is directlystuck up through front.

contact 54 of carrier relay AC this carrier relay AC is dependent onback contact 31 of carrier relay AC being closed. In other words,thecare rier relays are sequentially deenergized from right to leftexcept for the one at the extreme right for a particular storage unithaving a train de-:

scriptionstored therein, and the transfer relays are sequentiallydeenergized from left to .right providing the carrier relay next to theleft is in.

its deenergized condition. This construction positively segregatessuccessive train descriptions in a manner so that two descriptionscannot reach the same storage bank. For instance, one train descriptionmust have reached its destination by filtering through one or morevacant storage banks to the last vacant storage bank before a secondtrain description can start on its trip to the vacant storage bank nextin the rear of the just occupied bank.

In the same Way as with the transfer relay ATR which remains stuck up ifone of the route push buttons is stuck in its depressed condition, theother transfer relays will remain stuck up if the slow acting carrierrelay next to the rear,

thereof (to left in drawings) remains accidentally stuck up. Thisfeature constitutes a check upon the system in that the system willremain paralyzed until a maintainer rectifies the trouble.

The stick circuit for each of the carrier relays which includes the backcontact of the next preceding (to right in drawings) carrier relay isprovided to prolong the loading time. For instance, the stick circuitfor the carrier relay AC including the back contact 31 of carrier relayAC is maintained intact longer than is the stick circuit including backcontact 33 .of transferrelay A'I'Rl. sothat the dropping'of the carrierrelay AC is additionally delayed.

.Another fact to be borne in mind is that the energized condition of. acarrier relay manifests that an all negative code is stored thereinunless there is also astorage relay energized to manifest a differentcode or train destination.

Referringlto the track layout shown in Fig. 5

of the drawings it may be pointed out that in.

some earlier systems of automatic hump yard control it was necessary'fora first route to have been entirely clearedup before a second routecould be established, this by reason of certain shortcomings in thesystem-and the fact that thefirst .track section is commonto all routes.This is not necessary in applicants system for inv cants system enablesa fast car. to actually get to its storageztrack before an earlierstarted first car reaches its storage track. Referring to Fig. 5 a firstcar may have only reached'the track switch SW whereas a second car hasalready reached the track switch SW Also, the present system lendsitself efiicaciously to a hump yard track layout where the actualstorage tracks for certain routes may be located as much as a milebeyond the entrance to other storage tracks. This is possible becausethe car description which is to control the track switch over which suchcar is to move is carried step by step from one train describer unit toanother as it passes over the track switch and in an extreme case aparticular train description might-be carried from one train describerunit to another for an hour or more, while'other and later initiatedtrain descriptions may have long been cancelled because thejcar whichthey described has reached its storage track. The present system has adecided advantage from an economic. standpoint. This is true becauseeach storage relay, except the first, may [define the position that oneor another track switch is to take. For instance, the storage relay 2Aor 2A may define the position either the switch SW or; the switch SW isto take, whereas the storage relay 3A or 3A may define the position thatany one of the track switches SW, SW, SW or SW is to take. ergizedmanifeststhat the track switch is to take the reverse position and bybeingdeenergized manifests that it is to assume the normal position, andin this connection it maybe pointed Also, such storage relay by beingenout that the system functions equally well if all gized whether or nota train description is stored in a particular storage bank.

Having thus shown and described one specific car classification systemapplicable to a car classification system in which there are three trackswitches ineach route-and in which there are only eight storage tracks,it is desired to-be understood that the system may be applied to muchmore complicated classification yards .in which. there are differentnumbers of switches in different routes. In order to point out howdifferent routes may have different numbers of track. switches we mayassume that thestorage track H is omitted from the present disclosure inwhich event the track switch SW and the switch machine SM would beentirelyon'litted'as would all of the apparatus-of storage unit D. Inthis case the storage unit B (see Fig. 3) would still requiretwo storagerelays 2B and 33 butithe storage relay 3B would perform no function Iwhen a train is routed into the track section D terminating in thestorage track I, also'if the storage track J were'also omitted thestorage relay 33 could be omitted. Other additions, omissions andmodifications may be made to the present invention without departingfrom the spirit or scope, thereof except as demanded by the scope of thefollowing claims.

What we claim as new: i

1. In a car classification system the combination with a track switch, atrack section leading to said track switch; two other track sectionsinto which saidltrack switch may direct trailic a train describer unitfor controlling said track switch and including a first and asecondstorage bank of relays; each bank including one carrier relay, one

storage relay and one transfer relay; said carrier relay when energizedreflecting that 'a train destination is stored in the bank irrespectiveof whether or not said storage relay is energized,

I the condition of energization of said storage relay reflecting onlywhat position the track switch is to assume and the transfer relaydetermining by being energized that a train .destination may betransferred thereto; means for controlling said relays to store aparticular train destination in such bank; a switch control circuit forcontrolling said track switch to one position including a front contactof said storage relay of said first bank and a switch control circuitfor controlling said track switch to the opposite positionincluding aback contact of the storage relay of said first bank and a front contactof the carrier relayof said first bank; and circuit means fortransferring a train destination stored in said second bank to ,saidfirst bank including front contacts of the storage relay and the carrierr'elayof said second bank and front contacts of the carrier relay andtransfer relay of said first bank.

2. In a car classification system the combination with a track switch, atrack section leading to said track switch; two other track sectionsinto which said track switch may direct traffic; a train describer unitfor each of said track sections, each unit including one carrier relay,one or more storage relays and one transfer relay; said carrier relaywhen energized reflecting that a train destination is stored in the bankirrespective of whether or not a storage relay is energized, the

condition of energization of said storage relays reflecting only thetrain destination stored therein and the transfer relay determining bybeing energized that a train destination may be trans ferred-thereto;means for controlling said relays to store a particular traindestination in such bank; a switch control circuit for controlling saidtrack switch to one position includinga front contact of one storagerelay of the storage unit associated with the leading section and aswitch control circuit for controlling said track switch to the oppositeposition including a back contact of said one storage relay and a frontcontact of the carrier relay of the unit of. which said one relayconstitutes a part; and means for transferring a train destinationstored in the unit associated with said leading section to the unitassociated with the section to which said track switch then directstrafiic including front contacts of storage relays exclusive of said onestorage relay and including a front contact of the carrier relayassociated with thesame unit as said one storage relay.

3. In a car classificationsystem the combination with a track switch, atrack sectionleading to said track switchytwo other track sections intowhich said track switch may direct traffic; a train describer unit foreach of said track sections, each unit including one carrier relay, oneor more storage relays and one transfer relay; said carrier relay whenenergized reflecting that a train;

such bank; a switchcontrol circuit for-controlling said track switch toone position including a front contact of one storage relay of thestorage unit associated with the leading section and a switch controlcircuit for controlling said track switch to the opposite positionincluding aback contact of said one storage relay and a front contact ofthe carrier'relay of they unit of which said one relay constitutes apart; switch repeating contacts associated with said track switch andassuming a position in accordance with the position assumed by saidswitch machine and track switch; and means for transferring a traindestination stored in the unit associated with said leading section tothe unit associated with the section to which said track switch'thendirects trafiic including front contacts of storage relaysexclusive of said one storage relay and including a front contact of thecarrier relay associated with the same unit as stick relay for each pushbutton, each stick relay when energized describing a particular train, a

pickup circuit for each stick relayincluding a normally open contact ofits associated push button, a transfer relay for transferring the traindescription from a particular stick relay to said train describerunitandhaving a pick-up circuit including a front contact of each ofsaid stick relays all inmultiple, a said stick relays including a backcontact of said transfer relay, and-a stick circuit for said transferrelay including in multiple normally open contacts of all of said pushbuttons and including in multiple front contacts of all of said stickrelays, whereby said transfer relay after once being energized cannot bedeenergized unless all of said push buttons and all of said stick relayssimultaneously assume their normal positions.

5. In a car classification system the combination with a track switch, atrack section leading to said track switch; two other track sectionsinto either of which said track switch may direct traffic at one time; atrain describer unit for controlling said track switch and including afirst and a second storage bank of relays; each bank includ-v stickcircuit for each of i'ng one carrier relay, one storage relay and onetransfer relay; said carrier relay when energized reflecting that atrain destination is stored in the bank irrespective of whether or notsaid storage relay is energized, the condition of energization of saidstorage relay reflecting what position the track switch is to assume andthe transfer relay determining by being energized that a traindestination may be transferred thereto from apreceding train describerbank; a switch control circuit for controlling said track switch to oneposition including a .front contact of-said storage relay of said firstbank; a switch control circuit for controlling said track switch to theopposite position including a back contact of the storage relay of saidfirst bank; and circuit means for transferring a train destinationstored in said second bank to said first bank including front contactsof the carrier relay and front contacts. of the transfer relay of saidfirst bank and front contacts of the storage relays. of said bank.

6'. In combination, a track switch, a switch machine for operating saidtrack switch, a normal circuit which if closed operates said switchmachine to a normal position to cause the switch machine to open suchnormal circuit, a reverse circuit which if closed operates said switchmachine to a reverse position to cause said switch machine to open'suchreverse circuit, a

* normally energized slow dropping switch reversing stick relayenergized by a stick circuit including its own front contact, contacts:on said switch reversing'relay which upon dropping of said switchreversing relay either open said normal circuit and close said reversecircuit or open said reverse circuit and close said normal circuitdepending upon which of said circuits was closed, and means fordeenergizing and dropping said switch reversing relay by opening saidstick circuit if either said normal or said reverse circuit has beenclosed for more than a predetermined time including contacts closed onlyif said switch machine assumes its last controlled position.

7; In combination, a' track switch, a switch machine for operating said.track switch, a normal circuit which if closed operates said switchmachine to a normal position to cause the switch machine to open suchnormal circuit, a reverse circuit which if closed operates saidswitch'machine to a reverse position to cause said switch" machine toopen such reverse circuit, a normally energized slow dropping switchreversing stick relay energized by a stick circuit including its ownfront contact and havingv contacts which up on dropping of saidreversing relay either open said normal circuit and close said reversecircuit or open said reverse circuit and close said nor- 7 mal circuitdepending upon which of said circuits was closed, means ford'eenergizing and dropping said switch reversing relay by opening itsstick circuit if either said normal or saidreverse circuit has beenclosed for more than a predetermined time including contacts which areopen when either said normal circuit or said reverse circuit is closed,a detector track circuit for saidtrack switch, and a pick-up circuit forsaid switch reversing stick. relay including a back contact of saidtrack relay.

8'. In combination, a track switch, a switch machine for operating said.track switch, a normal circuit which if closed operates said switchmachine to a normal position to cause the: switch machine to open suchnormal circuit, a reverse circuit which if closedoperates said switch:ma-

chine to a reverse position: to cause said switch.v

machine to open such reverse circuit, a normally I energized slowdropping switch reversingstick relay energized. by a stick circuitincl'uding'its own front contact and having contacts which upon droppingof'said reversing relay either open said normal circuit and close saidreverse circuit or open said reverse circuit and closesaid normalcircuit depending upon which of said circuits was closed, means fordeenergizing said switch reversing relay by opening its stick cir-- cuitand dropping said switch reversing relay if either said normal or saidreverse circuit has been closed for more than a predetermined time,

a detector track circuit for said track switch, a pick-up circuitfcrsaid switch reversing stick relay including a back contact of saidtrack irelay, an indicator means for indicating the .posi-' tionrofsaid. switch-machine, and means for in-- termittently rendering saidindicator active when" said sticks relay is. deenergized. i

9. In a train descriptionrtransfer system, com

prising a plurality of relay groups each capable;

of manifesting whether av train description is stored in storage relaysassociated. with'su'ch group, said. storage relays by'their conditionof" energization or deenergization" characterizing a code defining thetrain destination, each group including a first and, a. second; stickrelay the second stick relay of which'when 'energize'dmaniefests that atrainv description is stored inthe group and the first stick. relay whenenergized manifests that a train description may be trans ferredthereto, a pick-up circuit for as first stick relay including a backcontact of the" associated secondstick relay, a stick circuit for suchfirst stick relay including a front contact of thefirst. stick relay ofthe next group in the rear, a pickup circuit for the second stick relayincluding a: front contact of the associated first stick relay,

and a stick circuit for such second stick relay,

including a front contactrof a-trackv relay ofatrack circuit traversedby a train described by such relay group.

10. In a train "description transfer system,;

comprising a plurality of relay groups each:

capableof manifesting whether tionis stored in storage relays ofenergization' or deenergization characterizing." a code defining thetrain. destination, each-group and stick relay of which when energized-2manifests, that a train description isstored in the group and that atrain descriptionmay be transferred there; to, a; pickup circuit fora atrain descripe associated with I such group, said storage relays-bytheir'condition.

' including a first and a second stick. relay the secthe first stickrelay when energized manifests first stick relay including:

a back contact of the associated second stick re-'' lay, a stick circuitfor such first stick relay including a. front contact of the firststick'relay of the next group in the rear, a pick-up circuit for thesecond stick relayincludinga front contact of; the

associated first stick relay, and a stick circuitfor such second stickrelay including a; front contact of a track relayof a track circuittraversed: by a train to'be described by such relay group-andalsoincluding anormal-ly closed mai-iuallyoperable cancel-ling contact. a;

11;. Ina. train descripticn trans-fer system,.comprising a plurality ofrelay groups each capable; of manifesting whether a train description isstored in storage relays associatedwith such, group, said storage relaysby their condition of energization or deenergization characterizing acode defining the train destination, each group; including afirst; and asecond-stick relay the .Secondstick relay of which when energized *mani-:fests that a train description is stored in the group and the firststick relay when energized manifests that a train description may :betransferred thereto, a pick-up circuit for a first stick relay includinga frcntcontact of the second stick relay ofthe group in the rear andincluding a backcontact of the associated second stick relay, astickcircuit for such first stick relay including a front contact of thefirst stick relay of the group :next in the rear, a pick-up circuit forthe y second stick relay of which when energized man- 'ifests that atrain description is stored-by storage relays in that group, saidstorage; relays by their condition of energ-ization-o-r deenergizationcharacterizi-ng a code defining the train destination;

a pickup circuit for the second stick relay of a particular groupincluding a front contact of the second stick relay of the group in therear 7 and including a back contact of the first stick relay of thegroup in advance; a pick-up circuit for the first stick relay of saidparticular group including ,a back contact of the second stick relay ofsaid particular group and a front contact of the second stick relayofthe group vnext in the rear; and stick circuits for the first and secondstickrelays of said particular group including a .front contact of thesecond stick relay of the group in the rear and a back contactjof thefirst stick relay of the group in advance, respectively. 13. In a-trai-ndescriber system; the combination with. a series of groupsof relays,each group including a first and a second stick relay the second stickrelay of which when energizedmanifests that a train description isstored by storage relays in that group, said storage relays by theircondition of energization or deenergization characterizing a codedefining thetrain destination; a pick-up circuit for the second stickrelay of a particular group including a front contact of the associatedfirst relay and a front contact of the second stick relay of the groupin the rear and including a back contact of the first :stick relay ofthe group in advance; a pick-up circuit for the first stick relay ofsaid particulargroup including a back contact of the second stick relayof said particulargroup and a front contact of the second stick relay ofthe group next in the rear; and stick circuits for the first and secondstick relays of said particular group including a front contact of thesecond stick relay of the group in the rear and .a back contact of thefirst stick relay of the group in advance, respectively,

14. In a train describersystem; the combination with. a series of groupsof relays,,each group including a. first and a second stick relay thesecond stick relay of which when energized manitests that a traindescription is-stored by storage relays in that group, said storagerelays by their ltion of energization or deenergization charzing a codedefining the train destination;

no ,ular group including a front contact of the associated first relayand a front contact of i the second stick relay of the group in the rearor more storage z-up circuit for the second stick relay of a andincluding a back contact of the first stick relay of the group inadvance; a'pick-up circuit for the first stick relay of said particulargroup including aback contact of the second stick relay of saidparticular group and a front contact of the second stick relay of thegroup next in the rear; stick circuits for the first and second stickrelays of said particular group including :a front contact of the secondstick relay of the group in the and a back contact of the first stickrelay of the group in advance,'respectively, and second stick circuitfor the second stick rely :of particular group including a back contactof the second stick relay of the group in advance.

1.5.EI1731 train describer system; the combination with aplurality ofgroups, of relays each including :a transfer relay, a carrier relay andone relays which storage relays'and carrier relay by their condition ofenergization designate the route a car. is to take; pick-up circuits forthe storage relays of each group except the rear "group including frontcontacts of the corresponding storage relays of the group in the thatgroup; the route a car is to travel being defined by the energized ordeenergized conditions of the successive storage, relays of each groupin a manner so that each storage relay defines a particular track switchin advance and when energized manifests that the corresponding trackswitch is to assume one position and when deenergized manifests that thecorresponding track switch is to assume the opposite position; andcontrol circuits for the transfer relays of each :groupconstructed tocause the car route 1 stored therein to be transferred to the next:relay group when such next relay group has been Va,- cated otthe carroute which has stored therein. 16. vI-n a train describer system; thecom-v bination with a plurality of-groups of relays each including .atransfer relay, a carrier relay and one or .rnore storage relays whichstorage relays and carrier. relay by their condition of energizationdesignate the route a car is to take; pick-up circuits for the storagerelays of each group except the rear group including front contacts ofthe corresponding storage relays of the groupin the rear, front contactsof the transfer relay of that group and front contacts of the carrierrelay of that group; the route acar is to travel being-defined by theenergized or deenergized each group in a manner so that each storagerelay defines a particular track switch in advance conditions of thesuccessive storage relays of spending trackswitch is toassume theopposite I position; a pick-up circuit for the transfer relay of eachgroup except the rear group including a front contact of the carrierrelay of the next group in the rear anda back contact of the associatedcarrier relay; and a stick circuit for such trans-fer relay including afront contact of the transfer relay of the next group in the rear.

1'7. In a train describer system; the combination with a plurality ofgroups of relays each including a transfer relay, a carrier relay andone or more storage relays which storage relays and carrier relay bytheir condition of energization designate the route a car is to take;pick-up circuits for the storage relays of each group except the reargroup including front contacts of the corresponding storage relays ofthe group in the rear, front contacts of the transfer relay of thatgroup and front contacts of the carrier relay of that group; the route acar is to travel being defined by the energized or deenergizedconditions of the successive storage relays of each group in a manner sothat each storage relay defines a particular track switch in advance andwhen energized manifests that the corresponding track switch is toassume one position and when deenergized manifests that thecorresponding track switch is to assume the opposite position; a pick-upcircuit for the transfer relay of each group except the rear groupincluding a front contact of the carrier relay of the next group in therear and a back contact of the associated carrier relay; and two stickcircuits for such transfer relay one including a front contact of thecarrier relay of the relay group next in the rear and the otherincluding a front contact of the transfer relay of the relay group nextin the rear.

18. A car classification system comprisinga plurality of groups ofrelays each group of which is capable of describing by the condition ofenergization or deenergization of the relays of such group thedestination of a car described thereby, means for transferring a traindestination description from one relay group to the next by energizingcertain relays of such next relay group to conform to the energizedcondition of corresponding relays of said one relay group, means foroperating the track switch of a particular relay group in accordancewith the train destination described by such relay group, and meansmanually operable for cancelling the train destination descriptionsstored in all ofsaid relay groups at the same time.

19. In a car classification system the combination with a track switch,a track section leading to said track switch; two other track sectionsinto which said track switch may direct traffic; a train describer unitfor controlling said track switch and including a bank of relays; saidbank including one carrier relay, one storage relay and one transferrelay; said carrier relay when energized reflecting that a traindestination is stored in the bank irrespective of whether or not saidstorage relay is energized, the condition of energization of saidstorage relay reflecting only what position the track switch is toassume and the transfer relay when energized, manifesting that a traindestination description may be registered therein; a switch controlcircuit for controlling said track switch to one position including afront contact of said storage relay of said bank; and a second switchcontrol circuit for con trolling said track switch to the oppositeposition including a back contact of the storage relay and a frontcontact of the carrier relay of said bank.

20. A car classification system comprising a track layout starting withone track and terminating in a large number of storage tracks connectedto said one track through routes each route including a plurality oftrack switches; a

train describer switch control unit for each track switch, each unitbeing divided into a first storage bank and a second storage; eachstorage bank, including a transfer relay, a carrier relay and one ormore storage relays arranged in order; a detector track circuitincluding a track relay for each track switch; a pick-up circuit for thetransfer relay of each bank including a back contact of the carrierrelay of that bank and a front contact of the carrier relay of the banknext in the rear,- but where such bank'in the rear is part of thetraindescriber switch control unit;

in the rear the pick-up circuit also includes 'a contact closed onlywhen the switch in the rear assumes a particular position and includesa'contact closed only if the associatedtrack relay is. deenergized;.astick circuit for each transfer relay including its own front contactand a front contact of the carrier relay of the bank next-in the rear,but where such bank in the rear ispart of the train describer switchcontrol unit in the rear the stick circuit also includes a contactclosed only when the switch in the rear assumes said particularposition; a pick-up circuit for each carrier relay including a' frontcontact of the carrier relay of the bank nextin the rear, but where suchbank next in the rear is part-of a train describer switch control unitin the rear the pick-up circuitalso includes a contact closed only whenthe switch in the rear assumes a-particular position and includes acontact closed only if the associated track relay is deenergized;

a stick circuit for each carrier relay including its own front contactand including a back 0011- I tact of th'ecarrier relay of the bank nextin ad- Vance when these banks belong to the same train describer switchcontrol unit, but including a j contact closed only if the associatedtrack relay is energized when such bank next in advance.

belongs to another train describer switch control unit; a pick-upcircuit for each storage. relay including a front contact of acorresponding storage relay of the bank next in the rear, but where suchbank next in the rear is part of another train describer switch controlunit in the rear the pick-up circuit also includes a contact closed onlywhen the switch in the rear assumes a particular position and includes acontact closed only when the associated track relay is deenergized; astick circuit for each storage relay including its own front contact anda front contact.

of its associated carrier relay; a switch machine associated with the'first'bank of eachunit for operating the associated track switch; andmeans for operating each switch machine controlled by the first storagerelay of the associated first bank. 5

21. A car classification system comprising a track layout starting withone track and termi nating in a large number of storage tracks connectedto said one track-through routes each route including a plurality oftrack switches; a train describer switch control unit for each trackswitch, each unit being divided into a first storage bank and a secondstorage bank; each storage bank, including a transfer relay, a carrierrelay and one or more storage relays arranged in order; a detector trackcircuit including a track relay for each track switch; a pick-up circuitfor the transfer relay of each bank including a back contact of thecarrier relay of that bank and a front where such bank in the rear ispart of the train describer switch control unit in the rear the stickcircuit also includes a contact closed only when the switch in the rearassumes said particular position; a pick-up circuit. for each carrierrelay

